Drain device



Sept. 27, 1938., E. M. TUCKER 2,131,240

DRAIN DEVICE Filed Deo. 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Edgar' M. en

sept. 27, 1938. E. M. TUCKER' 2,13L240 DRAIN DEVICE Filed Dec. e, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Edqdr M.Tucker BY ATTOR EY.

Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNiTE-D STATES PATENT :OFFICE DRAIN DEVICE A Edgar M. Tucker, South Pasadena, Calif., asA

signor of one-half to W. H.

Calif.

Fabry, Alhambra,

' Application December 6, 1937, lSerial No. 178,357

9 Claims.

be interfered with by debris which clogs the drain.

A vInore'speciiic object of the invention is to provide a roof drain including a syphon for lowering the water level should the maindrain become clogged. f X

Another object of the invention is to provide a roof drain including a principal drain and an auxiliary drain and wherein a syphon is employed to lower the water level should the drain become clogged.

Other objects and the advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a central sectional view through a drain device embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the drain device;

Fig. 3 is a front View of the drain;

Fig. 4 Aisa fragmentary sectional view through the auxiliary drain member;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modication of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a front viewshowing the modification; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the modification.

In the draining of roof structures where the roof is more or less flat it iscustomary to provide a drain member so that the water as it falls will be conducted to a suitable outlet.

In a drain device of this nature there is a likelihood of clogging due to leaves and other debris and as a result water accumulates on the roof and its weight seriously damages Vor in some cases destroys the roof covering or structure. It is accordingly the 'purpose of my invention to provide a roof drain with an auxiliary drain which will function should the main drain become clogged to lower the water level on the roof.

According to my invention I provide a main drain and an auxiliary drain with a syphon combined with the auxiliary drain and this structure is set forth in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have shown my invention as embodied in a drain device which is indicated generally at I0. As shown the device I0 includes a main drain member which comprises a. sheet metal base plate I2 having -a rectangular aperture I3 there- (cl. y182-1) in. Furthermoreadjacent the edgesthereof the base plate I2 has a plurality of apertures I2' therein. Positioned in the aperture I3 I provide Ya downwardly extending open topped Aboxlike member -orE wellY I 4,' thb'ottom I 45'of which has a circularaperture I6 therein. Around the upper edge the well memberl4 includes a flange portion Il which engages the plate -I2about` the periphery of the aperture I3 and is secured there` to as by wielding or soldering. I f l W Positioned in the'aperture VI III provide a downwardly extending pipe member I8 having a flanged portion I 9 at "its upper end which overlays a portion of the well bottom I l and is secured thereto as by welding or soldering. f y

Adjacent its lower end the pipeA I8 has a threaded `collar 20 thereon which may be secured thereto either by welding or soldering. The co1-y lar 2U communicates with a drain pipe 20'. A

Adjacent one side of the plate I2 I provide an cated generally .atl 2|. The overflow member 2l includes a front wall .22, an inclined rear and top wall 23 and end walls 24. YThe walls 22, 23and` v 24 are secured to the base plate I2 as by weldingr or soldering the lower edges thereto. The front wall 22 adjacent the'upper edge thereof has a rectangular aperture 25 therein which is preferably covered by a screen member 26.*'.

As shown in Fig. 4 the screen 2B is preferably removably secured to the wall 22 by clips 2'Ipositioned in suitable apertures 28 in the wall 22 and including a flexible prong 29 "which extends through the screen mesh. Below the aperture 25 and intermediate the length thereof the wall 22 has a circular aperture 30 therein.

. Within the space covered by the overflow member 2I and intermediate the length thereof the base plate I2 has an aperture 3| therein. Positioned in the aperture 3l I provide a circular con-v duit member 32. As shown the conduit 32 is positioned at an Vangle to the base Aplate, I2 and has its lower end opening into the interior of the pipe I8. At its upper end the conduit 32 includes a ilanged portion 33 which overlies a portion of the base plate I2 and is secured thereto as vby welding or soldering. The conduit 32 where it joins'the .pipe I8 is secured thereto as by welding or soldering. n

Positionedl in the conduit 32 I provide a re duced syphon member '34 the upper portion of which extends through the 4aperture '30 in the Wall' 22, thence downwardly and terminates in an inlet located adjacent to the plate I2. 'Thelower 20 overow member or auxiliary drain member indi-v y I8 and extends below the lower end thereof a predetermined distance. The pipe 34 is soldered or welded tothe wall 22 and ksimilarly secured to the pipe I8.

When the device I0 is installed on a roof the well portion I4 is positioned between a pair of adjacent rafters 35 and the base plate I2 overlies one layer of roofing material 36 on the disk 3'I. Plastic material 38 is positioned between the plate I2 and the roofing material 36. Plastic material 39 is placed on the base plate-.I2 and then a sheet of roong material 40 is laid over the plate I2 upto the flange I1 and rmly pressed in place. The plastic material 38 and 39 bonds together through the plate apertures I2' thereby forming a water tight seal.

In Figs. 5, 6 and '7 I show a modification of my invention which is indicated generally at 50.1 As shown the modification includes a base member 5I from which a principal or main d rain member 52 extends downwardly. This main member preferably flares at its upperportion and is provided with a cover 53 which includes a mesh portion 54 which serves to remove the debris carried by the water on the roof.

The main drain 52 communicates with an auxiliarydrain indicated generally at 55 and which includes an outlet 56 which enters the main drain. The auxiliary drain includes a cylindrical upper portion 51 which is internally7 threaded as at 58 to receive an exteriorly threaded pipe 53 in -which an elbow 60 is threaded as at 6I for adjustment and is held in adjusted position by a set screwl 62 so that the height of the outlet 630i the elbow relative to the base 5I) may be adjusted. Adjacent the elbow I show a syphon indicated generally at 64 and which includes an inlet member 65 which is slidable in a pipe 66 and which may be adjusted by fastening means similar to the means 62 previously described.

The pipe 66 is threaded on the front end of a collar 68 the lower end of which extends downwardly as at 69 forming a syphon member. This member 69 includes an outlet portion I0 disi posed within the lower portion of the main drain 52. The lower portion of the main drain 52 is threaded as`at 'II to receive a collar 'I2 by means of which an outlet pipe 'I3 is coupled to the drain.

The device shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is preferably made of sheet metal while the device shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is preferably an aluminum or iron casting although the particular manner in which these parts are made forms.

no part of the present invention.

In the operation of the two devices the water enters the main drain and flows therethrough so long as this drain is not clogged. Should the main drain become clogged the water level will rise and enter the inlet to the syphon and a small portion of the water will pass through the syphon as soon as the water level rises above the top of the elbow in the syphon.

As soon as the water level rises to the inlet to the auxiliary drain the water will pass through this drain and will drain the roof so long as the rain continues. Since the debris collects about the principal outlet there is` practically no likelihood of the auxiliary outlet being clogged. As soon as the source of water such as the rain has ceased the action of the syphon continues until the water level is below the inlet to the syphon. Consequently there is no danger of the weight of water on the roof becoming so heavy as to injure the roof covering or the structure which supports the roof.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel drain device which can be economically manufactured and which is highly ecient for its`intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a drain device, a main drain member having an inlet and outlet, an auxiliary drain member, said auxiliary member including an inlet and a conduit extending to said outlet, a syphon member independent of said main drain member and said auxiliary drain member and having its inlet disposed above said main drain member inlet and below said auxiliary drain member inlet, said syphon member having an outlet.

2. In a drain device, a main drain member 'having an inlet and outlet, an auxiliary drain member, said auxiliary member including an inlet 'remote from said main drain inlet and a conduit extending `to said outlet, a syphon member having its inlet disposed below said auxiliary drain member' inlet and remote from the main drain inlet and the auxiliary drain inlet, said syphon member having its outlet end opening into said drain member outlet.

3.v In a drain device, a drain member having an outlet, an overflow member, said overflow member including an inlet and a conduit extending to said outlet, a syphon member independent of said drain member and said overflow member and having its inlet disposed above said drain member, said syphon member having its outlet end openinginto said drain member.

4. In a drain device, a main drain member having an inlet and an outlet, an auxiliary drain member having an inlet disposed above the main inlet, said auxiliary drain having an outlet communicating with the main drain outlet and a syphon member independent of said main drain member and said auxiliary drain member and having an inlet disposed below said auxiliary drain inlet, said syphon member having an outlet.

5. In a drain device, a base plate having an opening therein, a receptacle beneath said opening, said receptacle having an aperture in the bottom thereof, a pipe member in said aperture, an overflow member on said base plate, said overiiow member including a front and a rear wall and end walls, the upper edge of said overow member including an aperture, and a conduit extending from the bottom of said overflow member to said pipe to afford communication between the overflow member and the pipe.

6. In a drain device, a base plate having a rectangular opening therein, a receptacle having edge flanges thereon engaging the lower surface of saidbase plate about said aperture, said receptacle having a bottom with an aperture therein, a pipe member in said aperture, said pipe member having a flange engaging the bottom of the receptacle, a threaded collar engaging said pipe, a coupling engaging the threaded collar, an overiiow member on said base plate, said overflow member including front, rear and end walls, the front of said overflow member including an aperture, a screen covering said aperture and a conduit extending from the bottom of said overflow member to said pipe to afford communication between the overow member and the pipe.

7. In a drain device, a base plate having an opening therein, a receptacle beneath said opening, said receptacle having an aperture in the bottom thereof, a pipe member in said aperture, an overowmember on said base plate, said overflow member including a front and a rear wall and end Walls, the upper edge of said overflow member including an aperture, a conduit extending from the bottom of said overow member to said pipe to afford communication between the overow member and the pipe, a syphon member having its upper end extending through the front wall of said overflow member and terminating near the top of said base member, said syphon member having its other end portion extending through said conduit.

8. In a drain device, a base plate having a rectangular opening therein, a receptacle having edge anges thereon engaging the lower surface of said base plate about said aperture, said receptacle having a bottom with an aperture therein, a pipe member in said aperture, said pipe member having a ange engaging the bottom of the receptacle, a threaded collar engaging said pipe, a coupling engaging the threaded collar, an overflow member on said base plate, said overflow member including front, rear and end walls, the front of said overow member outlet.

including an aperture, a screen covering said aperture, a conduit extending from the bottom of said overflow member to said pipe to afford communication between the overow member and the pipe, a syphon member having its upper end extending through the front Wall of said overflow member and downwardly directed and terminating near the top of said base plate, said syphon member having its other end extending through said conduit and into said pipe.

9. In a drain device, a main drain member including a pipe having an inlet and an outlet, a closure for said inlet, an auxiliary drain device including an inlet and an outlet, said auxiliary drain device being disposed Without said main drain member and having its outlet communicating with the main drain member outlet. an adjustable syphon member having its upper end disposed adjacent to the auxiliary drain device and terminating below the main drain inlet, said syphon member having its lower end extending into said main drain member EDGAR M. TUCKER. 

